Category Archives: Renewable Energy

Fleeing Vesuvius: Collapse and the Church of Gaia

Posted on 18 April 2011 by Graham Strouts

Book Review Fleeing Vesuvius Overcoming the risks of economic and environmental collapse edited by Richard Douthwaite and Gillian Fallon Feasta 2010 ppbck 417 pp. The recent economic collapse is not just a financial and banking issue, not just an economic … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, climate change, collapse, Overshoot, Peak Oil, Renewable Energy | 12 Comments

The Economics of Happiness

Posted on 2 February 2011 by Graham Strouts

The new film from Helena Norberg-Hodge The Economics of Happiness was premiered in UCC last night to a full house, with Helena herself arriving in time to join a panel discussion afterwards. I met Helena over 10 years ago in … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Environment, Food, Renewable Energy | 8 Comments

Whole Earth Discipline

Posted on 22 March 2010 by Graham Strouts

Book Review: Whole Earth Discipline An Ecopragmatist Manifesto by Stewart Brand Atlantic Books 2009 316pp “Civilization is at risk, but civilization is the problem”. Stewart Brand is one of the iconic founders of the environmental movement, an original old hippy … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, climate change, collapse, community, Environment, Human Ecology, Population, Renewable Energy, Science and Rationaltiy, Tools and technology | 21 Comments

Solar Power on the Shortest Day

Posted on 22 December 2009 by Graham Strouts

It is now exactly 6 months since I set up my 600watt at Derryduff. Having now reached the shortest days of the year I am in a position to evaluate its performance, and I can say it has served me … Continue reading →

Posted in Kinsale, Permaculture, Renewable Energy, Tools and technology | Leave a comment

Solstice Solar Array

Posted on 21 June 2009 by Graham Strouts

I just wired up a new photovoltaic array- an auspicious time to do it on the longest- and so far the sunniest- day of the year. Delivering a cool 600 watts of raw solar power at 24volts, the impressive bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Renewable Energy | 2 Comments

Essential Reading on Population

Posted on 28 March 2009 by Graham Strouts

The Real Perils of Human Population Growth by David and Marcia Pimentel The present world population of 6.7 billion is projected by the United Nations to increase to 9 billion and may rise to as many as 11 billion by … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Ecology, Population, Renewable Energy | 5 Comments

Powerdown Toolkit #4: Rethinking Energy

Posted on 2 March 2009 by Graham Strouts

This is the introduction to  week four of the Powerdown Toolkit 10-week community learning course created by the Cultivate Centre in Dublin. It has an accompanying TV show with a 30-minute episode accompanying each week of the course, soon to … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Peak Oil, Powerdown, Renewable Energy | 1 Comment

Road Trip

Posted on 18 June 2008 by Graham Strouts

A recent trip up country took me first to Westport where I called in on the Sustainability Institute, home of the Irish Sustainability Magazine. Right: Sustainability editor Andy Wilson hard at work Andy Wilson’s creation of the Sustainability Magazine has … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, General, Permaculture, Renewable Energy, Yurts | 1 Comment

Charcoal Making at Manch

Posted on 8 June 2008 by Graham Strouts

I have recently been experimenting with some simple charcoal making in an oil drum. I did a couple of demonstrations a few weeks ago for first a Biodiversity day and second the Slow Food “Munch at the Manch” events at … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Renewable Energy, Tools and technology | 4 Comments

Pedal Power

Posted on 15 February 2008 by Graham Strouts

I had the pleasure of visiting the Cork Community Bike project in Cork City the other day where I found Garrett Blake and Rob in the workshop. Both have been to the inspiring Maya Pedal Project in Guatamala which has … Continue reading →

Posted in Renewable Energy | 2 Comments